Electric gaseous discharge device construction



Dec. 2, 1958 MORIN ETAL 2,863,094

ELECTRIC GASEOUS DISCHARGE DEVICE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 28, 1955 IN V EN TOR-5' JOJPH R. MOR/N HECTOR E. THEK/AULT attain Patented Dec. 2, 1958 ELECTRIC GASEOUS DISCHARGE DEVICE CONSTRUCTION Joseph R. Morin, Ipswich, and Hector E. Theriault, Salem, Mass, assignors to Sylvania Electric Products Inc, Salem, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 28, 1955, Serial No. 555,887

Claims. (Cl. 315-60) This invention relates to electric gaseous discharge devices and more particularly to those in which an arc tube light source is disposed Within an outer jacket or envelope.

In the manufacture of discharge devices of the type to which reference is made, great care must be exercised in positioning and securing the arc tube and the resistor associated therewith within the outer envelope in order to minimize the possibilities of damage to the components during handling, shipping and in operation. Both structural rigidity and structural resiliency must be attained; the former to insure a positive positioning of certain of the components, and the latter to minimize structural breaks of other components due to mechanical shock and vibration.

In the improved structure of our invention, a resistor associated with the auxiliary or starting electrode of the arc tube is positioned on the principal arc tube support wire and one, of the lead-wires from the resistor is wound around the support wire and is welded thereto. The improved structure of our invention is further characterized by the provision of means for engaging the ends of the resistor to more positively retain it in position; one end is seated on an insulator button which in turn rests on the upper longitudinal edge of a metal finger which is welded to the principal arc tube support wire, and the other end is engaged by the depending flange of a collar which encircles the arc tube and is welded to the aforementioned support wire.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevational View, partly in section, of an electric gaseous discharge device employing the structure of our invention; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, and on an enlarged scale, illustrating the structure of our invention.

Referring now to the drawing, particularly Figure 1 thereof, the lamp shown therein comprises an outer jacket or envelope 2 of light-transmitting material within which an arc tube 4 is supported The arc tube 4 is provided with main electrodes 6 and 8 at the ends thereof and an auxiliary electrode 10 disposed adjacent to the main electrode 8. The tube 4 is also provided with a filling of mercury and an inert gas.

The stem press 12 of the outer envelope 2 isprovided with a pair of lead-wires 14 and 16, through which the arc tube 4 may be connected to a source of electrical energy. Lead-wire 14 is connected to electrode 8 of the arc tube 4 by a metal ribbon 18. A-substantially U shaped support wire 20 is mounted on lead-Wire 16. C01- lars 22 and 24, which encircle the arc tube 4 adjacent to the constricted ends thereof, are fixedly attached to the legs of the U-shaped wire 20 and thus support the arc tube within the outer envelope 2. A plate 26 bridges the free ends of the U-shaped support wire 20 and is fixedly attached thereto to impart rigidity to the structure. The free ends of the U-shaped support wire 20 are also provided with a pair of resilient metal fingers 28 which are fixedly attached thereto, the ends of the fingers 28 frictionally engaging the inner wall of the constricted upper end of the envelope 2 to further support the structure. Similarly, the lower portion of the legs of the U-shaped support wire 20 is provided with resilient metal fingers 30 and 32 which are fixedly attached thereto, the ends of the fingers 30 and 32 frictionally engaging the inner Wall of the constricted lower end of the envelope 2.

Referring now particularly to Figure 2,. a resistor 34 is disposed on support wire 2% and is seated on an insulator button 35 which, in turn, rests on the upper longitudinal edge of resilient metal finger 32. Lead-wire 36 of resistor 34 is wound around support wire 2d and it is also welded thereto. This mode of connection has been found to be particularly advantageous because, even if a weld failure should occur, the tight winding of lead-Wire 36 about support Wire 29 has been found to be adequate enough to maintain the electrical circuit through these members. Lead-wire 38 of resistor 34 is welded to metal ribbon 41? which is in turn connected to auxiliary electrode 1d of the arc tube 4.

Although considerable rigidity is imparted to the structure by positioning the resistor 3 on support wire 20 and Winding lead-wire 36 of resistor 34 about support wire 2b and welding it thereto, additional structural rigidity may be obtained by positioning the resistor 34 on the support wire 2% so that the lower end thereof is seated on insulator button 35 and the upper end thereof is engaged by a depending flange d2 of collar 24. Another advantage which accrues from arcing, since the button 35 ton 35' is the elimination of arcing, since the button 35 prevents contact between the body of resistor 34 and support wire 20; this displacement prevents electrolysis of and ultimate arcing through of the resistor core.

What we claim is:

1. In an electric gaseous discharge device having an arc tube disposed within a ligh-transmitting envelope, the combination of: a support for said are tube; and a resistor disposed on said support and through which said support extends, said resistor having lead-wires extending there from, one of said lead-wires being wound around said support and welded thereto.

2. In an electric gaseous discharge device having an arc tube disposed within a light-transmitting envelope and in which the arc tube is provided with a main electrode at each end thereof and an auxiliary electrode adjacent to one of said main electrodes, the combination of: a support for said are tube; and a resistor disposed on said support and through which said support extends, said resistor having a pair of lead-wires extending therefrom, one of said lead-wires being wound around said support and welded thereto, and the other of said lead-wires being connected to said auxiliary electrode.

3. In an electric gaseous discharge device having an arc tube disposed Within a light-transmitting envelope, the combination of: a'support for said are tube; a resistor disposed on said support and through which said support extends, said resistor having lead-wires extending therefrom, one of said lead-wires being wound around said support and welded thereto; and means, engaging said resistor at the ends thereof, for retaining said resistor in predetermined position on said support.

4. In an electric gaseous discharge device having an arc tube disposed within a light-transmitting envelope and in which the arc tube is provided with a main electrode at each end thereof and an auxiliary electrode adjacent to one of said main electrodes, the combination of: a support for-said arc tube; aresistor disposed on said support and through which said support extends, said resistor having a pair of lead-wires extending therefrom, one of said lead-wires being wound around said support and welded thereto, and the other of said lead-wires being connected to said auxiliary electrode; and means, en-

gaging said resistor at the end thereof, for retaining said resistor in pre-determined position on said support.

5. In an electric gaseous discharge device having an arc tube disposed within a light-transmitting envelope, the combination of: a support for said arc tube, said support including a wire extending substantially parallel to said are tube and a collar disposed about said are tube, said collar being attached to said wire and having a flange depending therefrom adjacent to said wire; a resistor disposed on said support wire and through which said support wire extends, the said flange of said collar engaging an end of said resistor, and said resistor having lead-wires i extending therefrom, one of said lead-wires being woun around said support wire and welded thereto; and an insulator button disposed on said support wire and on which said resistor is seated, said button and said flange cooperating to retain said resistor in pre-determined position on said support wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS lnrnan Nov. 8, 1938 

